Women Winning Wednesday

"Rest when you're weary.  Refresh and renew yourself, your body, your mind, your spirit.  Then get back to work." - Ralph Marston

Happy Women Winning Wednesday!!  As I mentioned before I'm celebrating mothers all month long!  All of the Women Winning posts this month has been put together with mothers in mind.  We started out with Resiliency which is important for all of us to cultivate.  Then we talked about Reconciliation because life is too short to not forgive!  We only have one mother and she will never be perfect so why not forgive?  Today we are focusing on R~E~N~E~W~A~L!!  

As mothers we can easily lose ourselves, the core of who we are trying to balance everything in our lives!  I asked the awesome motivator and founder of Metamorphosis Women's Encounter, Monique to share her thoughts on this subject.  Her organization's goal is to see women transformed so who better to share with us?!

Monique, as mothers and women in general, we tend to put ourselves last.  What is renewal to you and why is this important for mothers to do (often)?

Renewal is the process of making like new, restore to freshness and vigor, or perfection, to begin again, to replenish , and or rejuvenate. Renewal is not only important for mothers to do but for us women as a whole. It is true we own many hats of responsibility and to perform properly in each of these roles it requires us to make multi-decisions along with multi-tasking to get and that accomplished. Managing life alone is a job and requires work…actually a lot of dedication in addition to that work if you want to maintain structure, remain organized, and create a wholesome environment for your family.  We can get so entangled in our hat wardrobe switching them on and off by just going with the busyness of our lives until we just may lose ourselves and dismiss what makes us…us.  When we finally decide to seek self-love we become discouraged because we don’t know where to begin to fulfill our own desires. Renewal is important to simply be in tune with our authentic selves and to live a well-balanced life to enjoy everything we have been blessed with…being single, a wife, mother, daughter, and friend. Renewal allows us to take on the bitter sweetness of life without losing control.

You are a wife, mother, full time employee and founder of Metamorphosis.  How do you make sure you stay renewed?

   

I am a Metamorphosis! What that means to me is continual transformation going from glory to glory on my life's journey. I desire to live a refreshed and renewed life. Yes! I rock many hats throughout my day and it is easy to feel bombarded and overwhelmed when you have so many demands and people depending on you for support. The first thing I do to remain renewed is pray. I take all my concerns, thoughts, and petitions to God, this relieve my soul. I have developed a relationship with the Lord. Not only that...I have learned to trust Him with my life. Trusting alone renews your strength to confidently move forward. I also have learned the importance of a wellness regimen which consist of eating well and exercising daily which boost my energy to thrive in my daily responsibilities, keeps me sexy,and strengthens my self worth because I am caring for me. Lastly, I listen to my inner self and take heed to when its time to relax, decline an invitation when necessary (don' need to attend every function) and make time for me to do things I love that bring me joy. Renewal allows you to be in tune with You which opens your mind to knowing whats best for you.

You desire to see real transformation in women and aim to do this through Metamorphosis, what advice can you offer women to purposely take time to renew themselves? 

 

As a woman who has overcoming the destruction affects of abuse, neglect, homelessness, rape, and hopelessness I can't stress enough how important it is to renew yourself daily. Through the process of renewal I have simply morphed beautifully into the CEO woman of my life managing marriage, motherhood, full-time employment, and starting a business with the trials of life all in between. Renewal began with a desire to want more for my life and family and to end the cycle of destruction that plagued my family. I encourage you to evaluate where you are and envision where you desire to be. Write it down and begin with prayer and carving out time to relax to clear your mind. Research methods to renew your mind, body, and spirit. One way to be renew is joining support groups, subscribe to empowering blogs, and removing drama and distractions from your life. Take courage and erase the picture someone else drew for you and recreate your own. Take a leap of faith and Live renewed, refreshed, rejuvenated with vigor to the fullest. After all we only get one life to live why not live it at your Best!

I don't know about ya'll but I'm renewed just from Monique sharing her thoughts!!  Thank you sis!  For more information about Metamorphosis visit her website and go like her Facebook Page!  

Don't wait, renew yourself starting today!

 Seasoned with Grace,

QueenZadia

Women Winning Wednesday

As mothers we need to be resilient!  The topic of resiliency had been heave on my friend, Lindsy's heart so I asked her to share her thoughts in hopes to encourage all mothers and women in general to stay resilient!  She's is a wife, mother of 3, full time employee, author and entrepreneur!  Once Lindsy completes her latest book, I'm sure she could write one on this subject!

Lindsy, what is your personal definition of resilience and how do you stay resilient wearing so many hats?

Resiliency is being mindful of the original plan and sticking with it.  Sometimes that may look like a zigzagged line, but stay the course anyway.  I've been guilty of getting distracted and even spreading myself too thin, but somehow come back to my original vision.  I am committed to accomplishing every dream God has given me.  That's being resilient.  I keep trying because I believe with full faith the dreams God gave me will manifest.

I've struggled over the years to balance home life, professional life and ministry.  Finding it was only part of the puzzle, I had to learn how to keep too.  Holding to my vision has helped me persevere.  

Why is it so important for mothers to be resilient?  

Parenting can be tricky at times.  It's the most important job I have.  As a mother I’ve had to be strong even when it seemed overwhelming.  I’m still learning how to be the biggest supporter and source of encouragement when a teacher or administrator would otherwise try to put a negative label on my children.  Being resilient is having faith that my children will fulfill their purpose.  It’s speaking life to them when they’re frustrated academically or socially among their peers.   Being a resilient mom is taking time to encourage my children, reading to them and making the occasional trip to the school is part of it.  Feeding my children balanced meals and keeping house is part of it.  It’s setting the right example in not only word, but deed.  I cannot get so busy that I lose sight of one of my greatest responsibilities: my home life. 

What advice can you offer women who might be at their breaking point or feeling overwhelmed to encourage them to stay resilient?

Stick with it!  Whatever ‘it’ is in your life, it’s worth working at.  We often face our greatest challenges when we’re on the right track. Stay with it.  Finish the course.  Don’t throw in the towel because it feels like your toughest fight; allow the very things that frustrate you to better you.  Be resilient.

Lindsy, you're currently working on a book about sisterhood.  How important it is for women to support one another and to find a support system?

My upcoming inspirational book titled Sister is all about sisterhood.  It has an overall theme of women supporting women.  Support is often overlooked, but has been a crucial part of my success. There are people behind the scenes praying for me and encouraging me to keep going.  We really need that in life.  Sure, there will be times when I have to believe by myself; but thank God for the times I don’t.  I’ve found that having the right people around helps.  I honor those that build me, hold me accountable and are flat out honest with me.  Key ingredients to success.

Lindsy continued with: 

Being resilient is a personal thing.  For me, I’ve been writing for nearly two years.  I’ve had my third baby and faced a few challenges in the middle of it.  I felt very defeated.  I had an on again-off again work ethic which prolonged what could have taken me a few months tops.  Now as I near the end of this project, I realize there were a few speed bumps in my path.  They weren’t meant to deter me; instead they helped to pace my progression.  It seemed to take every ounce of me to finish and now I understand why.  There were several lessons built into the process to get to my finish line.  God was developing resiliency in me.  That is, a spirit to go on anyway.

I'd just like to end by saying today is my fit-anniversary (I'm so excited:)!!  A year ago today I started this healthy lifestyle journey and there is no turning back..  If you all read my story then you know I lost 60lbs in less than a year by changing my eating habits from unhealthy to healthy and working out 5-6 days a week.  All of this took resiliency!!  Whatever goals you have in mind, cultivate resilience and you will see yourself not just meeting but exceeding your goals!

Thank you Lindsy for sharing with us today!!  To find out more about her books, visit her website: www.lindsyb.com.  

Seasoned with Grace,

QueenZadia